Halifax NP812 B.Mk.VII - Bombing Troisdorf Germany - 1944-12-29 to 1944-12-30
Squadron: 432 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-12-29
Completion Date: 1944-12-30
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Troisdorf Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF East Moor
Take Off Time: 15:14
Squadron Code: QO-T
Radio Code:
Return Base: RAF Woodbridge
Return Time: 21:20
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group December 29/30, 1944

48 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the oil refinery at Scholven/Buer. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 540,000 lb of high explosives.According to reports, the target was cloud covered but the refinery was seriously damaged along with serious damage to the Hugo coal mines.

6 Halifaxes from 424, 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at 2,000 feet, sowing24@1500 lb mines.

149 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and433 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Troisdorf. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 1,168,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, much of the bombing missed the target. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

197 aircraft - 159 Halifaxes, 24 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attempted to bomb the railway yards but most of the attack missed the target. No other details are available. No aircraft lost.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 812 QO-T was hit by flak returning from an operation against targets in Troisdorf, Germany and severely damaged

The Bomb Aimer, Pilot Officer GH Barrett (RCAF) had been wounded in the flak attack, misinterpreted the pilot's instructions and bailed out while the bomber was flying over France. It is believed that Pilot Officer Barnett was badly injured and could not wait until return to the UK, so bailed out in an attempt to get urgent medical care. (Henk Welting, www.rafcommands.com). Sadly Barrett died from his injuries, the only crew member lost on this operation. The Halifax managed to fly back to the UK safely and make an emergency landing on two engines at RAF Woodridge, Suffolk

unvetted Source "Belgians Remember Them": RAF aircraft's crash sites: Jemeppe

unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

unvetted Source Grave of Pilot Officer George H Barnett Halifax VII NP812 QO-T 432 Sqn - ...

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